Sanji stands up helping the others (the ladies) get up. Nami groans as Sanji helped her up. "Where did she go?" Nami asks looking around.
"I saw her running further into the island." Sanji points to the dirt path, "down that way." Sanji says.
"There's another town that way." Nami says looking at the others. "So who wants to join and who wants to stay?" Nami asks them. There is a chance that Zoro might go berserk. No one but Luffy and Sanji stood a chance against her.
Being the good nakama they are everyone agreed to go. Sanji had his backpack with groceries, Chopper with his new herbs, Robin with some new books, Usopp and Franky with some new tools and materials and Brook with some new music sheets. With everything set they started to walk, following Zoro's tracks.
It was a very long walk to the next town, it didn't seem that far on the map. Once they did make it to the town it was peaceful. That meant Zoro hasn't gone berserk, yet. They don't know if she will but they're not counting it out. If she doesn't great but they're going to be safe rather than sorry.
They look around for Zoro in a group. With how strong she is it's better to stick together rather than find her alone and get beat like a ragdoll. Nami shivered at that thought. That's what makes her glad Zoro is on their side and not the marines or someone else.
They stopped when they saw familiar green hair. "Zoro!" They shout glad to found her but they approached her with caution. Zoro didn't turn around which made them all more cautious. They came to a stop when they realized what Zoro was looking at. She stood in front of a statue of two woman. Zoro looked at the woman, while the others looked at the plaque that said; In memory of Nina and Alex.
Those names. They are the ones that Zoro say when talking about her katanas past. Luffy puts his hand on Zoro's shoulder which she jumps at, shocked that they are there. She looks at them confused at first then a little guilty. "Sorry, I know I said I'd stay on the Sunny but..." Zoro stops not knowing how to explain this.
"It's alright." Nami says. "Let's get you back to the Sunny." She adds, "after you're done looking."
"No," Zoro shakes her head, "I think this is it. This is where Nina died." Zoro says.
"Are you sure?" Chopper asks. Zoro just nods.
"This town seemed familiar, now I know why." Zoro looks at the statue again. It doesn't do them justice, it doesn't show how strong, smart and in love they both were.
"If that's the case the grave should be somewhere near here." Nami says. "We should ask around, if this is-" Nami gets cut off.
"Excuse me!" Someone shouts at them. The whole crew look around for the voice. "Excuse me." the person says closer. They see it's a woman with bangs and glasses. She's in a nice sundress. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave." She says with a smile.
"Why?" Nami asks with a frown on her face.
"She," the woman says pointing at Zoro, "needs to leave."
"Okay, but first where can we find Nina's grave?" Zoro asks.
"There is no grave so leave!" She shouts. Zoro glares at her. That's not right. There has to be a grave. Maybe they forgot? Zoro felt something hurt her chest. It was just like before she went berserk. Worried she looks over to the others looking at her. They stared back shocked and then worried as Zoro hunched over clenching her chest. Luffy knowing already takes her swords, Zoro doesn't fight him, she lets her captain take them. Zoro just gives him a nod.
"I'm going." She groans out. Zoro turning to leave. The others stare at her as she leaves without her swords. But it was better and Nami knew that to interfere at this point.
But now they had questions. They all knew Zoro and her along with Luffy can't lie if their life depended on it, so why would this lady say that there is no grave here. And her reaction was a little weird. She immediately started yelling at them, well Zoro to leave. It's obvious she knows who Nina is, they are in front of her statue but she didn't explain that at all and started yelling. Someone was lying and they know for sure it's not Zoro.
Zoro took deep breaths as she walked. She can't do anything without her swords. Well not completely true. She has the no sword style but that's not as dangerous as having her swords. Zoro felt her heartbeat calm down. That's a good sign. It felt like the first time she went berserk but not at the same time. This time it felt like it happened because of Nina not Alex. With Alex it felt like pure rage, nothing but darkness and the need to see blood but this time it was just anger. Probably at the woman for lying. She knew that Nina has her grave buried here, she saw it. Alex saw it. So why did she say that? Hopefully the others will get information.
Zoro stops, standing still in place her gaze caught something. A small stone path leading into the mountain. Zoro narrows her gaze at that. She walks to where the dirt turns into stone. She looks up the path to see it leads further into the forest. She had forgotten that there was a way to get to the mountain. She was so focused on following the phantom images of Nina and Alex that she forgot about this road. Zoro looks around. There's no one here or around so maybe she could get to the mountain and see for herself the ledge those people called home. It would be a quick visit.
Zoro follows the stone path till it stops at the foot of the mountain. She follows the smoothed path that years and years of walking have created, to the clearing in the mountain. She wondered if there are still remnants of those people there? It was kind of cool to think that she'd be in a place where Nina and Alex once were. Is this why Robin loves history?
When she made it to the top it was amazing to see. It looked just like the memory but this is more clear. She walked forward looking around like a tourist. She walked past a couple tents in the shape of a cone. Zoro stops in front of a fireplace. She bend down and grabbed some flint and steel that was left on the side. She lights the fire and it illuminates the small area around her. Zoro looked around to see there were more fireplaces. She went and lit each one of them. She continue to walk around letting her hand slide across the wall where there were painted drawing there. One drawing looked like Nina and Alex but made by either a child or Luffy. It was that bad but it was the thought that counted.
The swordsman didn't flinch at all as spears were pointed at her neck. Zoro slowly turned to them when she finished looking at the drawing. They all gasped, Zoro just rolled her eye. Yeah, she gets it. Around these islands tan, green haired and silver eyed people aren't normal. She stands out. Zoro looks around. Besides the people pointing their weapon at her there weren't any men. They were a lot of young children, teenagers and a couple older woman. Thinking about it now there were a lot of older men and woman back at the village. There were some young couples here and there. And old woman stood before the crowd of what Zoro assumes are civilians. "What do you want?" The older woman asks with a glare on her face, directed to Zoro.
"To see Nina's grave." Zoro answer as she turns fully her whole body towards the older lady. She saw the shocked expression on everyone's faces.
"How do you know that's she's buried here?" The old woman asks.
"So she is!" Zoro says. "Why would that girl lie to us?" Zoro says.
"Girl?"
"Yeah, black hair, straight bangs with glasses. Wearing a sundress." Zoro describes.
"Oh, my granddaughter. She wasn't really lying. Nina isn't buried here anymore."
